Pa, grandma nabbed for use of girl, 6, in begging for alms

CEBU, Philippines - That innocent-looking, pitiful child begging for a coin or two in the street might be being exploited, like what a father and his mother allegedly did to his six-year-old daughter yesterday morning.

For the offense, they may not be able to join the girl at home to celebrate Christmas, if ever they would, comes December 25. This was after authorities arrested the 56-year-old grandmother and the 36-year-old father for allegedly using the girl for mendicancy along Escario Extension, Cebu City.

Senior Inspector Jeremie Sheila Gurtiza, Cebu City Police Office-Women's and Children Protection Desk chief, and Reden Betito, Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children executive director, said they were traversing the street to attend a meeting in a nearby hotel when they saw the girl asking for alms.

 "Amo man silang nakit-an… gikuha nila ang kita sa bata, hinungdan nagpatabang mi sa Fuente Police Station ug anti-mendicancy (board) aron masikop silang duha tungod kay kalapasan sa RA 7610 ilang gihimo," said Gurtiza. RA 7610 mandates the protection of children against abuse, exploitation, and discrimination, among other provisions.

Gurtiza said they immediately called Cebu City Hall's Department of Social Welfare and Servi-ces to rescue the minor. They also arrested the victim's grandmother and her father, who revealed that they lived in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City and were beneficiaries of the government's "Pantawid Pamilya ng Pilipino Program."

Gurtiza called on the public not to give money to street children or those begging for alms in the streets.

Betito, on the other hand, said they did whatever means necessary in helping street families, but they allegedly often go back to the streets after receiving aid.

"Mobalik gihapon sila sa kadalanan tungod kay gusto og sayon nga trabaho pinaagi sa pagpakilimos sa dalan," he said.

Betito said they have listed over 100 street families and tried to help them through a cash-for-work program but only six availed of the offer, which requires that they help maintain the city's parks and playgrounds for them to earn.

Meanwhile, the grandmother said she and her granddaughter had just returned from scavenging when she decided that they would try caroling on the streets.

"Igo ra mi namasko sa lugar kuyog akong apo samtang gikan mi namasura.  Wala ko masayod nga usa kini ka kalapasan, samtang ang papa sa bata igo ra na niapas namo kay nag-away sa iyang asawa nga maoy inahan sa bata," the grandmother said.

She and the girl's father asked the police for forgiveness, saying they did not know what they did was illegal, as it is already Christmas season and many are doing it.

Gurtiza, though, said they are determined to file a complaint against the grandmother and the father for them to serve as examples to everybody that they would end up in jail if they exploit minors into asking for alms or caroling in the streets for them. (FREEMAN)